Updating method and apparatus of sleep mode operation

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein relates to a sleep mode operation method, and the method of updating a sleep mode operation according to the present invention may include receiving a service flow configuration request (DSx-REQ) message including a service flow parameter for service flow configuration and a sleep cycle ID (SCID) for changing a sleep mode according to the service flow configuration from a base station during a sleep mode listening window; transmitting a service flow configuration response (DSx-RSP) message including the SCID; configuring the service flow according to the service flow identifier; and changing an SCID to the SCID for updating the sleep mode operation.

RELATED APPLICATION Cross-Reference to Related Applications

The present application is a 37 C.F.R. §1.53(b) continuation ofco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/833,734 filed Jul. 9,2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos.61/224,910 filed on Jul. 12, 2009, and 61/241,032 filed Sep. 10, 2009,and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0108787,filed Nov. 11, 2009, the entire contents of all which are herebyincorporated by reference and for which priority is claimed under 35U.S.C. §120.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sleep mode operation method andapparatus, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for updatinga sleep cycle ID (SCID).

2. Description of the Related Art

The problem of power consumption in terminals may be a considerablyimportant element in a broadband wireless mobile communication systemcompared to other systems because the mobility of terminals should beconsidered. A sleep mode operation between a terminal and a base stationhas been proposed as one of such methods for minimizing powerconsumption in the terminal.

In a conventional sleep mode operation, a terminal requests to enterinto a sleep mode if there exists no more traffic to be transmittedand/or received to and/or from a base station while performing acommunication with the base station in an active mode, and receives aresponse to that request from the base station to change the statethereof to a sleep mode.

The terminal that has entered into a sleep state receives a messageindicating whether there exists a traffic transferred from the basestation during a sleep listening window, and determines that thereexists no data traffic transmitted to a downlink, and increases thecurrent sleep cycle twice if negative indication indicating that thereexists no traffic is received.

Furthermore, if positive indication is received from the base stationduring the listening window, then the terminal determines that thereexists data traffic transferred to a downlink, and initializes thecurrent sleep cycle.

On the other hand, if the terminal is entered into a sleep modeoperation and then a new service is added or a service change or servicedeletion is generated, then the sleep mode operation should be changedaccording to that.

In this case, according to the related art, if connection configurationthrough service flow generation is completed, then a procedure ofupdating a sleep cycle ID (SCID) for performing a sleep mode operationchange should be additionally carried out, thereby causing a problem ofsignaling overhead in which a new sleep mode request and responsemessage should be transmitted or received between the terminal and thebase station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatuscapable of updating a sleep mode operation through a message forchanging service flow in case where the service of a terminal beingoperated in a sleep mode is changed.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide amethod of updating a sleep cycle ID for updating a sleep mode operation,and a method of updating the sleep mode operation in a terminal usingthe same.

In order to accomplish the foregoing object, a method of updating asleep mode operation in a terminal according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may include receiving a service flow configurationrequest (DSx-REQ) message comprising a service flow parameter forservice flow configuration and a sleep cycle ID (SCID) for sleep modechange according to the service flow configuration from a base stationduring a sleep mode listening window; transmitting a service flowconfiguration response (DSx-RSP) message comprising the SCID; andconfiguring the service flow according to the service flow identifier,and changing a SCID to the SCID to update the sleep mode operation.

In order to accomplish the foregoing object, a method of updating asleep mode operation in a terminal according to another embodiment ofthe present invention may include receiving a service flow configurationrequest (DSx-REQ) message comprising a service flow identifier forservice flow configuration from a base station during a sleep modelistening window; transmitting a service flow configuration response(DSx-RSP) message comprising the sleep cycle ID; receiving a serviceflow configuration confirmation (DSx-ACK) message comprising a sleepcycle ID for sleep mode update according to the service flowconfiguration from the base station; and configuring the service flowaccording to the service flow identifier, and changing apreviously-assigned sleep cycle ID to the sleep cycle ID to update thesleep mode operation.

In order to accomplish the foregoing object, a method of updating asleep mode operation in a terminal according to still another embodimentof the present invention may include transmitting a sleep mode requestmessage for entering into the sleep mode to a base station; receiving asleep mode response message comprising a sleep mode operation parameterfrom the base station; changing the state to the sleep mode by referringto the sleep mode operation parameter; receiving sleep mode updateinformation comprising a sleep cycle ID and a sleep mode updateoperation start frame information from the base station; and updatingthe sleep mode operation by referring to the sleep mode updateinformation, wherein a sleep cycle is updated at the time of the sleepmode update operation start frame information if the sleep mode updateoperation start frame is a previous frame that has received the sleepmode update information.

In order to accomplish the foregoing object, a method of updating asleep mode operation in a terminal according to yet another embodimentof the present invention may include transmitting a sleep mode requestmessage for entering into the sleep mode to a base station; receiving asleep mode response message comprising a sleep mode operation parameterfrom the base station; changing the state to the sleep mode by referringto the sleep mode operation parameter; reporting the characteristic of aservice flow being executed to the base station if the characteristic ofa service flow being executed has been changed; receiving sleep modeupdate information including a sleep cycle ID through an unsolicitedsleep mode response message or sleep control extended header from thebase station; and updating the sleep mode operation by referring to thesleep mode update information.

In order to accomplish the foregoing object, a sleep operation apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may include areceiver configured to receive a service flow configuration requestmessage comprising a service flow connection related to serviceaddition, change or deletion during a sleep mode listening window andthe service flow operation parameter; a transmitter configured totransmit a service flow configuration response message to the serviceflow configuration request message; and a controller configured toperform the service flow connection and operation parameterconfiguration, and update the sleep cycle of the sleep mode and thesleep mode operation for the service flow operation, wherein thecontroller updates the sleep cycle of the sleep mode when configuring aservice flow connection related to the service addition, change ordeletion.

According to the present invention, in the sleep mode operation of aterminal, updating of sleep cycle information is carried out through amessage for service flow change even in case where the service of aterminal being operated in a sleep mode is changed, thereby solving aconventional problem of generating a signaling overhead.

Furthermore, even in case where a message for updating a sleep modeoperation is received subsequent to a normal update operation timingthrough data retransmission such as HARQ due to a bad channel situation,it may be possible to update a sleep mode operation through a sleep modeupdate operation method provided by the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a typical sleep mode operation;

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a sleep mode operationupdate process in case where a new service is added to a terminal beingoperated in a sleep mode;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram sequentially illustrating a sleep modeoperation update process according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram sequentially illustrating a sleep modeoperation update process according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram sequentially illustrating a sleep modeoperation update process according to still another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a view sequentially illustrating a sleep mode operationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating that a base station updates SCID to changea sleep cycle during a listening window;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating that a base station updates SCID to changea sleep cycle during a listening window by a report of the terminal;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a sleep mode update operation in casewhere a terminal receives sleep mode update information subsequent to astart frame timing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a sleep mode update operation in casewhere a terminal receives sleep mode update information subsequent to astart frame timing according to another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a sleep modeoperation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and thesame or similar elements are designated with the same numeral referencesregardless of the numerals in the drawings and their redundantdescription will be omitted. In describing the present invention,moreover, the detailed description will be omitted when a specificdescription for publicly known technologies to which the inventionpertains is judged to obscure the gist of the present invention. Also,it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are merely illustratedto easily explain the spirit of the invention, and therefore, theyshould not be construed to limit the spirit of the invention by theaccompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, the term “terminal” herein is used with a meaning, commonlyreferred to as a user equipment (UE), a mobile equipment (ME), and amobile station (MS). Furthermore, the terminal may be portable equipmentsuch as a portable phone, a PDA, a smart phone, and a notebook, ornon-portable equipment such as a PC, and a vehicle-loaded device.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a typical sleep mode operation.

A terminal transmits a SLP-REQ message for requesting to switch to asleep mode to the base station if there exists no more traffic to betransmitted or received in a normal state (S101), and receives a SLP-RSPmessage including a sleep parameter such as sleep cycle, listeningwindow, and the like from the base station (S103) and the state thereofis switched to a sleep mode.

The sleep mode may include a sleep window (SW) incapable of receivingdata and a listening window (LW) capable of receiving data.

The terminal increases power to be changed to a state capable oftransmitting or receiving data traffic in the listening window (LW), andthe terminal decreases power to enter into a power saving mode in thesleep window (SW).

The terminal operates a sleep mode by applying a sleep cycle (sc1)including only a sleep window (sw1) when changing the state to aninitial sleep mode. From a second sleep cycle subsequent to terminatingthe first sleep cycle (sc1), the terminal operates the sleep mode byapplying a sleep cycle (sc2) including a listening window (lw2) and asleep window (sw2).

In the second sleep cycle (SC2), if a TRF-IND message including negativeindication is received from the base station during the listening window(LW2) (S105), then the terminal determines that there exists no traffictransmitted to a downlink, thereby increasing the current sleep cycletwice.

Subsequent to terminating the sleep cycle (SC2) increased twice, if aTRF-IND message including positive indication is received during alistening window (LW3) of the following sleep cycle (SC3) (S107), thenthe terminal extends the listening window (ELW3) to receive thegenerated data traffic and then receives data traffic from the basestation (S109), and enters into a sleep window (SW3) again to perform asleep mode operation. At this time, the sleep cycle (SC3) includes alistening window (SW3), an extended listening window (LW3), and a sleepwindow (SW3) as illustrated in the drawing, and then the sleep cycle(SC3) is reset to an initial sleep cycle (SC1).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, if a new service is added, or service changeor service deletion is generated, then a sleep cycle ID and sleep modeoperation according to that should be updated.

Hereinafter, a method of updating a sleep cycle ID (hereinafter,referred to as “SCID”) for sleep mode operation update will bedescribed. Messages for adding a new service, changing or deleting aservice in a terminal are defined as a dynamic service add (DSA)message, a dynamic service change (DSC) message, or dynamic servicedelete (DSD) message, respectively, and hereinafter those three messagesare commonly referred to as a service flow configuration message (DSxmessage).

Furthermore, hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of explanation, adynamic service add message among those three messages will be describedas an representative example, and in case of the service change andservice deletion, the SCID update method will be applied theretosimilarly as in the service addition.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a sleep mode operation updateprocess in case where a new service is added to a terminal beingoperated in a sleep mode. A service flow configuration message (DSxmessage) may be initiated by a terminal as well as by a base station,and hereafter it will be described a case where it is initiated by abase station as an example, for the sake of convenience of explanation.

In case where a base station is to add a new service to a terminalcurrently being operated in a sleep mode state, the base stationtransmits a dynamic service add message (DSA-REQ) (S201). The dynamicservice add message (DSA-REQ) may be transmitted to the base station bya request of the terminal, but a case of requesting from the basestation is illustrated as a representative embodiment in FIG. 2, for thesake of convenience of explanation.

The connection configuration and service flow parameter for a newservice flow are defined in the DSA-REQ message.

The terminal receives a DSA-REQ message from the base station to performparameter configuration for a new service flow, and then transmits aresponse message (DSA-RSP) to the dynamic service add message to thebase station (S203).

The base station receives a dynamic service add response message fromthe terminal, and then transmits a confirmation message (DSA-ACK) to theterminal (S205).

Through the foregoing process, connection configuration through newservice flow generation is carried out.

Subsequently, the terminal transmits a sleep mode request message(SLP-REQ) for updating SCID in which a newly added service flow isreflected to the base station (S207).

The base station transmits a response message (SLP-RSP) including SCIDupdate information for sleep mode update to the terminal (S209).

The terminal receives the SLP-RSP message from the base station toupdate SCID, and then operates in an updated sleep mode (S211).

The sleep mode update operation in FIG. 2 additionally requires asignaling process for SCID update request and response to update a sleepmode operation in which the relevant service flow is reflected afterperforming connection configuration for a new service flow, therebycausing a problem of generating a signaling overhead as illustrated inthe above.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram sequentially illustrating a sleep modeoperation update process according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The base station transmits a service flow configuration request message(DSx-REQ) to the terminal to add a new service, or change or delete acurrent service (S301).

The service flow configuration request message is a DSA-REQ or DSC-REQmessage if it is a service flow add or change request to add a newservice flow or change a current service flow, and a service flowparameter including the traffic characteristic and schedulingrequirement of the added or changed service flow is included in theservice flow configuration request message.

At this time, a dynamic service change request message (DSx-REQ) forchanging a parameter of the service flow may include SCID updateinformation for updating a sleep mode operation according to serviceflow addition or change.

In case where the service flow configuration request message is arequest for deleting a current service flow, it corresponds to a DSD-REQmessage, and the DSD-REQ message may include a service flow subject tothe deletion.

Accordingly, a previously assigned SCID may be updated through theDSx-REQ message together with a request for adding, changing or deletinga service flow.

In other words, it is transferred through a DSx-REQ message includingSCID and a start frame number without an additional signaling procedurefor updating the SCID, and thus it may be possible to update sleep modeoperation information through a more simplified signaling procedure.

A DSx-REQ message including SCID update and updated sleep mode startinformation is illustrated in the following Table 1.

TABLE 1 Name Value Usage Operation 0b00: To switch Sleep Cycle Thisindicates operation setting in DSx-REQ request type of DSx-REQ messagewhich has been message negotiated since the MS entered Sleep Mode0b01-0b11: reserved SCID 0~15 Sleep Cycle ID Start Frame 0~63 LeastSignificant 6 bits Number of Frame Number. This field appears whenOperation is 0b00.

Referring to Table 1, in case where an operation parameter of theDSA-REQ message is set to “0b00”, the current SCID is switched to anewly assigned SCID through the DSx-REQ message.

A SCID parameter in the DSx-REQ message corresponds to a SCID updateparameter which is to be switched with a previously-assigned SCID. Inaddition, a start frame number parameter indicates updated sleep modecycle start frame information.

The terminal that has received a service flow configuration requestmessage (DSx-REQ) configures a service flow connection and operationparameter, and transfers a service flow configuration response message(DSx-RSP) to the base station (S303).

A DSx-RSP message including SCID update and updated sleep mode startinformation is illustrated in the following Table 2.

TABLE 2 Name Value Usage Response 0b00: DSx-RSP message is Thisindicates response Code transmitted to approve the type of DSx-RSPswitch of a Sleep Cycle message. setting which has been negotiated sincethe MS entered Sleep Mode 0b01: DSx-RSP message is transmitted to rejectthe request sent by MS 0b10~0b11: Reserved SCID 0~15 Sleep Cycle ID Thisfield appears when Response Code is 0b00 or 0b01 Start Frame 0~63 LeastSignificant 6 bits Number of Frame Number. This field appears whenResponse Code is 0b00.

Referring to Table 2, it is indicated in the DSx-REQ message that a SCIDswitching request is approved in case where a response code parameter ofthe DSx-RSP message is set to “0b00”, but indicated that the SCIDswitching request is rejected in case where the response code parameteris set to “0b01”.

A SCID parameter of the DSx-RSP message corresponds to a SCID updateparameter which is to be switched with a previously assigned SCID. Inaddition, a start frame number parameter indicates updated sleep modecycle start frame information.

As described above, in case where SCID is updated through DSx-REQ andDSx-RSP messages in Tables 1 and 2, the SCID to be switched with theprevious SCID and the start frame number indicating a frame number forapplying the relevant SCID may be included in the relevant message.

Subsequently, the terminal switches the previously assigned SCID to anewly assigned SCID to update a sleep mode operation (S311).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, only SCID maybe included in a DSx-REQ/RSP message without information for a “startframe number” indicating a start frame to which a new sleep cycle isapplied, and at this time the terminal resets the sleep cycle to aninitial sleep cycle at the moment when receiving DSx-REQ/RSP messageincluding SCID to be updated, thereby operating the updated sleep mode.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram sequentially illustrating a sleep modeoperation update process according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, which corresponds to a case where the terminal requests newservice addition, service change or service deletion to the basestation.

The terminal transmits a service flow configuration request message(DSx-REQ) to the base station to add a new service, or change or deletea service (S401).

The service flow configuration request message is a DSA-REQ or DSC-REQmessage in case where it is a service flow addition or change requestfor adding a new service flow or changing a current service flow, and aservice flow parameter including the traffic characteristic orscheduling requirement of the added or changed service flow is includedin the service flow configuration request message.

At this time, a dynamic service change request message (DXs-REQ) forchanging a parameter of the service flow may include SCID updateinformation for updating a sleep mode operation according to the serviceflow addition or change.

The service flow configuration request message is a DSD-REQ message incase where it is a request for deleting a current service flow, and theDSD-REQ message may include a service flow information subject todeletion.

Accordingly, the previously assigned SCID can be updated together with arequest for adding changing and deleting a service flow through theDSx-REQ message.

The base station that has received a service flow configuration requestmessage (DSx-REQ) from the terminal transfers a service flowconfiguration response message (DSx-RSP) including a SCID updateparameter to the terminal (S403).

Subsequently, the terminal switches the previously assigned SCID to anewly assigned SCID to update a sleep mode operation (S311).

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram sequentially illustrating a sleep modeoperation update process according to still another embodiment of thepresent invention.

The base station transmits a dynamic service add request message(DSA-REQ) defining connection configuration for a new service flow andservice flow parameter to the terminal (S501). The dynamic service addrequest message (DSA-REQ) may be transmitted to the base station by arequest of the terminal, but it is illustrated a case of requesting fromthe base station as a representative embodiment in FIG. 5, for the sakeof convenience of explanation.

The terminal that has received a dynamic service add request messageperforms parameter configuration for a new service flow, and transmits adynamic service add response message (DSA-RSP) to the base station(S503).

The base station that has received a dynamic service add responsemessage (DSA-RSP) transmits a dynamic service add confirmation message(DSA-ACK) to the terminal (S505). At this time, a SCID update parametermay be included in a downlink (DL) sleep control extended header asillustrated in the following Table 3.

TABLE 3 Syntax Size (bit) Notes Last 1 Last Extended Header indication:0 = one or more extended header follows the current extended headerunless specified otherwise; 1 = this extended header is the lastextended header unless specified otherwise Type TBD Type of Extendedheader Operation 2 0b00: Exit Sleep Mode 0b01: Change Sleep Mode 0b10:Extension of Listening Widow 0b11: Termination of Listening Windowif(Operation == 0b01) { Sleep_Cycle_ID (SCID) 4 Start Frame Number 4This parameter indicates start frame number that the sleep cycle changesto the new sleep cycle settings. } Reserved variable Reserved bits areadded at the end of DL Sleep Control Extended Header for byte alignment

In Table 3, the “operation” parameter is related to a sleep modeoperation, which indicates the completion and change of a sleep modeoperation, and listening window extension and completion.

For the SCID update according to the service addition of a terminal, thebase station sets the operation parameter in the DL sleep controlextended header to “0b01”, thereby transmitting to the terminal.

At this time, the start frame information of a sleep mode operation tobe updated indicates a start frame to which a new sleep cycle is appliedthrough a “start frame number” parameter

The terminal that has received SCID update information through the DLsleep control extended header defined in Table 1 activates an updateoperation in the relevant frame by referring to start frame informationrelated to the timing for activating the relevant SCID update (startframe number) (S311).

Referring to an embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 5, an additionalprocedure for transmitting or receiving a message for transmissionconnection assigned in a new service flow generation process is omittedcompared to an embedment of FIG. 2 while defining SCID, thereby reducingan overall signaling overhead.

FIG. 6 is a view sequentially illustrating a sleep mode operationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

The terminal performs communication with the base station in a normal oractive mode and then transmits a SLP-REQ (sleep-request) message to thebase station to enter into a sleep mode when there exist no more trafficto be transmitted and/or received to and/or from the base station(S601).

The base station receives the SLP-REQ message from the terminal and thentransmits a SLP-RSP (sleep-response) message to the SLP-REQ message tothe terminal (S603).

The SLP-RSP message may include a sleep mode operation parameter (sleepparameter) such as a sleep cycle, a listening window, and the like, fora sleep mode operation of the terminal.

According to circumstances, the base station directly transmits anunsolicited SLP-RSP message to the terminal even without a sleep modeentry request message (S601) of the terminal to instruct the terminal toenter into a sleep mode.

The terminal that has received the SLP-RSP message changes the state toa sleep mode by referring to the sleep mode operation parameter toperform a sleep mode operation.

In the sleep mode, the base station transmits a TRF-IND(traffic-indication) message to the terminal to indicate whether thereexists traffic to be transferred to the terminal during a listeningwindow (LW) (S605).

The TRF-IND message indicating whether there exists traffic is set topositive indication if there exists traffic, and set to negativeindication if there exists no traffic.

If a TRF-IND message including negative indication during a listeningwindow (LW2) in the second SLP-RSP (SC2) is received from the basestation (S605), then the terminal determines that there exists no datatraffic to be transmitted to a downlink, thereby increasing a currentsleep cycle twice.

After the sleep cycle (SC2) that has been increased twice is completed,the terminal receives a service flow configuration request message(DSx-REQ) requesting the addition of a new service, change or deletionduring a listening window (LW3) of the following sleep cycle (SC3) fromthe base station (S607).

The service flow configuration request message (DSx-REQ) is illustratedin the following Table 4.

TABLE 4 Name Value Usage ~ Operation 0b00: To switch Sleep Cycle Thisindicates operation setting in DSx-REQ message request type of which hasbeen negotiated since DSx-REQ message the MS entered Sleep Mode0b01-0b11: reserved SCID 0~15 Sleep Cycle ID

The DSx-REQ message in Table 4 includes only SCID information to beupdated and switched but not includes information for the timing ofstarting a sleep mode operation to be updated.

At this time, the terminal applies a new sleep mode operation from thetiming (610) of starting a LW that has received the DSx-REQ message.Thus, the third sleep cycle (SC3) is reset to an initial sleep mode(SC1).

In this manner, even if information for a start frame number is notincluded in the sleep mode update instruction, the terminal sets thesleep cycle to an initial sleep cycle, thereby easily performing a sleepmode update operation.

Similarly, even though SCID is updated through a DSx-RSP message, if theDSx-RSP message includes only SCID information to be updated andswitched but not includes information for the timing of starting a sleepmode operation to be updated as illustrated in Table 5, the terminal isreset to an initial sleep mode (SC1) from the timing of starting a LWthat has transmitted the DSx-RSP message, and thus the terminal sets thesleep cycle to an initial sleep cycle even though a start frame numberis not included in the DSx-RSP, thereby easily performing a sleep mode.

TABLE 5 Name Value Usage ~ Response 0b00: DSx-RSP message is Thisindicates response type Code transmitted to approve the of DSx-RSPmessage. switch of a Sleep Cycle setting which has been negotiated sincethe MS entered Sleep Mode 0b01: DSx-RSP message is transmitted to rejectthe request sent by MS 0b10~0b11: Reserved SCID 0~15 Sleep Cycle ID Thisfield appears when Response Code is 0b00 or 0b01. ~

Also, even though a sleep mode operation is updated through the sleepcontrol extended header, if a start frame number is not included in thesleep control extended header, then the terminal resets the sleep cycleto an initial sleep cycle at the moment when receiving a sleep controlextended header including SCID to be switched, thereby performing theupdate of a sleep mode operation.

TABLE 6 Syntax Size (bit) Notes Last 1 Last Extended Header indication:0 = one or more extended header follows the current extended headerunless specified otherwise; 1 = this extended header is the lastextended header unless specified otherwise Type TBD Type of Extendedheader Operation 2 0b00: Exit Sleep Mode 0b01: Change Sleep Mode 0b10:Extension of Listening Widow 0b11: Termination of Listening Windowif(Operation == 0b10) { Extendable Listening 4 Measured in Frames Window} if(Operation == 0b01) { Sleep_Cycle_ID (SCID) 4 } Reserved variableReserved bits are added at the end of DL Sleep Control Extended Headerfor byte alignment

Hereinafter, a sleep mode update operation will be described in casewhere the base station transmits a sleep mode message including SCID anda start frame number to apply a new sleep mode parameter to the terminalduring a listening window of the terminal, and a case where the terminalreceives a message for changing the sleep mode parameter subsequent tothe start frame number.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating that a base station updates SCID to changea sleep cycle during a listening window;

As illustrated in FIG. 7, in case where a sleep mode operation of theterminal is required to be updated, for example, in case where theservice characteristic of a service flow or the like is changed, thebase station transmits an unsolicited SLP-RSP or DL sleep controlextended header during a listening window of the terminal (S701).Otherwise, even in case of receiving a report about a change for theforegoing service characteristic from the terminal, the base station maytransmit the foregoing unsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink (DL) sleepcontrol extended header to the terminal in response to the report toupdate a sleep mode operation.

The terminal receives the unsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink (DL) sleepcontrol extended header during the listening window, and refers to startframe information to which a new SCID value and a sleep mode updateoperation are applied, thereby applying a new sleep cycle at the startframe point (S703). The start frame information may be known through astart frame number or start frame offset parameter, and the start framenumber or start frame offset is bit information indicating a start framein which a sleep mode operation is newly started and they correspond tosubstantially same information.

If the start frame information (start frame number or start frameoffset) is not included in the received unsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink(DL) sleep control extended header, then the terminal resets the sleepcycle to an initial sleep cycle at the moment when receiving theunsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink (DL) sleep control extended headerincluding SCID to be switched, thereby performing the update of a sleepmode operation.

Subsequently, the terminal transfers a confirmation (ACK) message to theunsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink (DL) sleep control extended headerreception to the base station (S705).

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an embodiment in which the terminalreports a change for the service characteristic to the base station ifthere is a change of the foregoing service characteristic or the like inthe start frame being executed in the terminal (S801), and the basestation transmits the foregoing unsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink (DL)sleep control extended header to the terminal to update a sleep modeoperation in response to that.

FIG. 9 is an embodiment in case where the base station has transmittedan unsolicited AAI_SLP-RSP or downlink (DL) sleep control extendedheader to the terminal to change the sleep cycle during a listeningwindow (S901) but the terminal receives the unsolicited SLP-RSP ordownlink (DL) sleep control extended header subsequent to the timing ofthe start frame (start frame number or start frame offset) to which anew sleep cycle parameter is to be applied.

In other words, even if the unsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink (DL) sleepcontrol extended header is received subsequent to the start framenumber, the terminal applies a new sleep cycle from the start framenumber point to operate a sleep mode (S903).

FIG. 10 is another embodiment in case where the base station hastransmitted an unsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink (DL) sleep controlextended header to the terminal to change the sleep cycle during alistening window but the terminal receives the unsolicited SLP-RSP ordownlink (DL) sleep control extended header subsequent to the timing ofthe start frame number to which a new sleep mode parameter is to beapplied. If it is required to update a sleep mode operation, then thebase station transfers an unsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink (DL) sleepcontrol extended header during a listening window of the terminal (S10).

In case where a reception data error has occurred due to the channelsituation, the terminal transmits a NACK message in response to theerror (S20) to request data retransmission, and then performs a dataretransmission process such as hybrid automatic retransmission request(HARQ) and the like (S30, S40, S50, S60), as illustrated in the drawing,and receives the unsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink (DL) sleep controlextended header normally at the fourth transmission timing (S70).

At this time, the terminal has received the unsolicited SLP-RSP ordownlink (DL) sleep control extended header subsequent to the startframe number.

In this case, as illustrated in drawing, it is processed such that thelistening window is extended (1001) to get out of the default listeningwindow (1002), and also even if the unsolicited SLP-RSP or downlink (DL)sleep control extended header transmitted by the base station isreceived subsequent to the start frame number, the terminal applies anew sleep cycle from the start frame of the unsolicited SLP-RSP ordownlink (DL) sleep control extended header to operate an updated sleepmode (S80).

Subsequently, the terminal transmits a sleep mode update confirmationmessage to the base station (S90).

The type of a downlink (DL) sleep control extended header transmitted tothe terminal by the base station to apply a new sleep mode parameter toa listening window according to an embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated in the following Table 7.

TABLE 7 Syntax Size (bit) Notes Last 1 Last Extended Header indication:0 = one or more extended header follows the current extended headerunless specified otherwise; 1 = this extended header is the lastextended header unless specified otherwise Type TBD Type of Extendedheader Operation 2 0b00: Exit Sleep Mode 0b01: Change Sleep Mode 0b10:Extension of Listening Widow 0b11: Termination of Listening Windowif(Operation == 0b10) { Extendable Listening Window 4 Measured in Frames} if(Operation == 0b01) { Sleep_Cycle_ID (SCID) 4 — Start Frame Number 4This parameter indicates start frame number that the sleep cycle changesto the new sleep cycle settings. (indicate a start frame to which a newsleep cycle is applied) } Reserved variable Reserved bits are added atthe end of DL Sleep Control Extended Header for byte alignment

The type of an unsolicited SLP-RSP message transmitted to the terminalby the base station to apply a new sleep mode parameter to a listeningwindow according to an embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in the following Table 8.

TABLE 8 Syntax Size (bit) Notes AAI_SLP-RSP ( ) { Request_Code 2 0b00:Exit from Sleep Mode 0b01: Enter Sleep Mode 0b10: Change Sleep Mode0b11: Reserved Sleep_Cycle_ID (SCID) 4 if(Request_Code == 0b01) {Traffic Indication Message Flag (TIMF) 1 If TIMF = 0, then a TrafficIndication Message is never sent If TIMF = 1, then a Traffic IndicationMessage is sent every Listening window Listening window Extension Flag 1If LWEF = 0, the Listening window is of fixed (LWEF) duration. If LWEF =1, the Listening window can be extended and is of variable duration Incase of TIMF = 1, LWEF shall be set to 1 Early Listening WindowTermination 1 If ELWTF = 0, the early listening window Flag (ELWTF)termination is not supported. If ELWTF = 1, the early listening windowtermination is supported. Start Frame Number 6 Start frame number forfirst sleep window Initial Sleep Cycle 8 — Final Sleep Cycle 10  —Listening Window 6 — if(LWEF == 1) { T_AMS 4 Measured in FramesT_HARQ_Retx 4 Measured in Frames } } — — else if(Request_Code == 0b10) {— if(Request_Code == 0b01 || 0b10) { Start Frame Number This parameterindicates start frame number that the sleep cycle changes to the newsleep cycle settings. (indicate a start frame to which a new sleep cycleis applied) } Padding variable Padding bits to ensure byte aligned. }

As described above, even if a sleep mode update message is normallyreceived subsequent to the timing of starting an update operationthrough a data retransmission process, it is processed such that thesleep mode is operated from the timing prior to data reception, therebypreventing data transmission and reception from being unsynchronizedbetween the terminal and the base station.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a sleep modeoperation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in the drawing, a sleep mode operation apparatus mayinclude a transmitter 1101 configured to transmit a sleep mode requestmessage for entering into a sleep mode to the base station, a receiver1103 configured to receive a sleep mode response message and a datatraffic generation indication message including a sleep mode operationparameter from the base station, and a controller 1105 configured tochange the state to a sleep mode by referring to a sleep mode operationparameter.

The receiver 1103 receives a service flow configuration request messageincluding a service flow connection related to service addition, changeor deletion and the service flow operation parameter.

The controller 1105 performs the service flow connection and operationparameter configuration, and updates a sleep cycle of the sleep mode andsleep mode operation for the service flow operation. According to anembodiment of the present invention, SCID and start frame number aretransferred through a DSx-REQ/RSP or downlink (DL) sleep controlextended header related to the service addition, change or deletion, andthus the controller 1105 can update the sleep cycle of a current sleepmode by referring to the sleep mode update information when configuringa service flow connection.

The method according to the present invention as described above may beimplemented by software, hardware, or a combination of both. Forexample, the method according to the present invention may be stored ina storage medium (for example, memory, flash memory, hard disk, and thelike inside the terminal), and may be implemented through codes orinstructions in a software program that can be performed by a processor(for example, microprocessor inside the terminal).

Though preferred embodiments of present invention are exemplarilydescribed as disclosed above, the scope of the invention is not limitedto those specific embodiments, and thus various modifications,variations, and improvements can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and within the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of updating, by a terminal, a sleep modeparameter in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:receiving, from a base station, an unsolicited sleep response (SLP-RSP)message, which initiates update of a sleep mode parameter and includes asleep cycle identifier (SCID) and a start frame number, the SCIDindicating a new sleep cycle setting, the start frame number indicatinga frame that the new sleep cycle setting is applied; applying the newsleep cycle setting at the frame indicated by the start frame number byupdating the SCID included in the unsolicited sleep response (SLP-RSP)message; and transmitting, to the base station, an acknowledgement (ACK)message as a response to the unsolicited sleep response (SLP-RSP)message, wherein the SCID has a size of 4 bits, wherein the start framenumber represents 6 least significant bits of a frame number, andwherein the start frame number indicates a start frame number for firstsleep window.
 2. A terminal in a wireless communication system, theterminal comprising: a receiver for configured for receiving, from abase station, an unsolicited sleep response (SLP-RSP) message, whichinitiates update of a sleep mode parameter and includes a sleep cycleidentifier (SCID) and a start frame number, the SCID indicating a newsleep cycle setting, the start frame number indicating a frame that thenew sleep cycle setting is applied; a controller configured for applyingthe new sleep cycle setting at the frame indicated by the start framenumber by updating the SCID included in the unsolicited sleep response(SLP-RSP) message; and a transmitter configured for transmitting, to thebase station, an acknowledgement (ACK) message as a response to theunsolicited sleep response (SLP-RSP) message, wherein the SCID has asize of 4 bits, wherein the start frame number represents 6 leastsignificant bits of a frame number, and wherein the start frame numberindicates a start frame number for first sleep window.